Customs Offenhauser pistons for Ford 8BA

I'm building a mild 8ba for my 49 Ford Tudor sedan. The plan is for a reliable engine for cruising around. My machinist has taken care of the block, heads and crank for me. Now I am in the market for a set of pistons, and I'm thinking about going with an offenhauser 4 ring set. Does any one out there have experience with these?


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Have you considered Ross from Speedway?
Pete

 

How did your machinist take care of the block without actually having the pistons there??? I have never had a machinist bore a block without having the actual pistons right there to measure as the diameters do tend to float a small amount. Production tolerances and all that.

I have always used 3 ring pistons in flatheads, the 4th ring is not really needed with modern ring technology.

 

Haven't got anything for you on the Offy slugs. I used these; Ross racing pistons, shot peened 8BA rods on a merc crank. zoom, zoom.

 

Bandit Billy looking good. I have nothing against the Ross Pistons, just thinking they are overkill for what I'm building.


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By the way, I'm running a 8ba cam reground by Schneider to a 260f and a set of the French rods from SoCal.


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FrozenMerc, I mean that it is decked, line bored and pressure tested. It will clean up at .060" over.


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I hear you jhammer, you got to know when to say when. I have a nasty habit of over imbibing when it comes to engine building, you might say I'm an octaneaholic. But like my bourbon, I don't mind spending a bit more where it counts.

I wish I had some practical experience and advise for you on the offy's. I'm sure some flatgearhead on here (like Carl)will come to your rescue. They always do for me.

Flatheads forever brotha!

 

I decided to go with a set of sealed power pistons


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why the decision change ?

 

I was able to get them through a local parts supplier. It's what my machinist uses generally


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I'm using the Offenhauser Pistons in my build. Look fine to me on initial inspection. I will update once I fit them and run the engine.

 

Not to familiar with the offy pistons either but defiantly agree that 3 rings are fine. The 4th ring just gives more drag. Ross pistons are awesome but for a weekend cruiser a little overkill. As far as modern technology of you are buying new parts the tolerances are rite on so its not as critical to finish hone without the Pistons


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Sorry guys I'm using I phone and hit send early. Having Pistons at the honing bench to fit properly is with out a doubt the best way but as long as you confirm piston to wall clearance. And speaking of clearances if that cam is a regrind double check the main journal diameter. Ive had guys run into trouble with undersized journals and stock sized bearings.


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I mic'd the journals on the cam and they are with in original spec, just cleaned up. Anybody have any experience with the 260f cam?


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The Ross pistons are nice. Whatever piston you end up with make sure the dome radius matches the radius of the heads you are using, and when you check for piston to head clearance check the entire top surface of the piston. As you may have .070 at one spot on the dome and only .015 at another point.